Finding Foliage

Lately, my outdoor run has lost some of its allure. The whipping winds and nose-chilling temperatures easily overpower the positive rush that follows a jog, leaving me hesitant in my doorway. But the weather isn’t the only thing stopping me (If I refused to run on all inclement days, the sweat-dripping summer months would never see me). It’s also the lack of scenery. The trees are bare; the grass is brown. The animals are safely tucked away in their dens. There aren’t even other people on the path. I have no means of distracting myself from the arduous task of running and thus, no motivation to jog along the barren streets of winter. If I had some way of finding a view that could compete with the beauty of spring, summer or fall, maybe I would be more inclined to exercise, but I don’t. Or do I?

I do.

The National Wildlife Federation has created the Green Hour, a site designed to reconnect the rest of the world with nature, regardless of season. All you have to do is type your zip code into the search engine and a list of nearby parks will appear. Each location is labeled with its distance from your home, a link for more information and indicators signaling what can be done while there. If you’re looking for a place to hike, a lake to skate or a trail to jog that is overrun with lush evergreens rather than naked oaks, this is your ticket to happiness. And if you’re unsure of what you want to do but know that you want to be outside, never fear. The site offers suggestions for wintertime cavorting. Go on a cold-weather scavenger hunt, catch snowflakes or track animals. There are plenty of things to do! So get out there. Have fun, and be healthy.

This entry was posted
on Monday, February 4th, 2008 at 4:52 pm and is filed under Men's Health.
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